US Marine Sentenced to Seven Years for Sexual Assault in Okinawa

Lance Corporal Jamel Clayton, aged 22, faces seven years in prison after being convicted of attacking a woman in her 20s, a case that adds to ongoing local protests against US bases in Japan.

In a significant ruling, a Japanese court has sentenced a US Marine, Lance Corporal Jamel Clayton, to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in Okinawa last year. Clayton, who is 22 and from Ohio, was found guilty of choking the victim from behind and attempting to engage in sexual intercourse. The incident adds to a troubling history of crimes committed by US servicemen in Okinawa, where over half of the 54,000 US troops in Japan are stationed. There has been local outrage over several sexual assault cases involving military personnel in the region, leading to protests and calls for the removal of US bases altogether. The court's decision highlighted the "high-level of credibility" in the victim's testimony, despite Clayton's denial and attempts to discredit her account during the trial. The judge underscored the brutality of the attack, noting that the victim suffered significant injuries. There are ongoing concerns among Okinawans about both crime and the impacts of military operations, while experts indicate that Japan's alliance with the US limits change in the status of military presence amidst regional security challenges.